Sectional distillation apparatus.



y G.B.FURMAN SECTIONAI. DISTILLATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. I9I5.-

y ljl, Patnted May 7,1918.

g jvwentoz ifm l @ma @was GEORGE B. FURMAN, OF EAST ORANGE; NEWVJERSEY.

SECTIONL DSTILLATION APPARATUS.

neonata Speccation'of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, i918.,

Application led 4August 26, 1915. Serial No. 47,411.

To .whom it may concern.' l Be 1t known that l, GEORGE B. FURMAN,

a citizen of the United States. and a resident ed. The particular purpose of my improvement is to construct the distilling apparatus of the column type in a lcompact manner so as to permit of its installation in a minimum of space without in any way interfering with its efficiency and operation. My invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing which by way of example illustrates a diagrammatic representation of my improvement.

As shown in the illustrated example the apparatus comprises two separators or columns 1 and 2 arranged' in any suitable manner for instance as in the drawing in which the separator 1 isv located in a horizontal position while the separator 2 is in an upright position. 'It will be understood that this arrangement of the separators is not arbitrary and that the horizontal separator may be disposed for instance'at an inclination to the horizontal without in any way departing from the present inventive idea. The separator 1 which may be of any suitable construction, as illustrated, comprises a closed tank divided into a series of' compartments by means of perforated plates or baiies 3 which in the present instance are upright owing to the position of the separator 1. The separator 2 which may also be of any convenient construction is shown as provided with internal, superimposed pans 4 between each pair of 'which apertured plates 5 are arranged. In vthe illustrated example each pas. 4 is provided with an individual outlet 4a each communicating with an outlet tube 4" extending exteriorly of the separator 2. kThe separators 1 and 2 are connected with each other preferably in series by means of a pipe 6 which communicates withthe end of the separator 1 and then extends downwardly and has its lower end curved Aupwardly and in communication with the lower end of the separator 2. The

separator l is further connected by means of a tube 7 with the upper end of a still or boiler 8 which may comprise any suitable construction adapted to convert the liquid to be distilled into vapor or steam.

The separator 1 is further provided with a return outlet 10 which hasa'ts .exit end in communication for instance with a glass tube 11 which in turnv is connected with ra pipe 12 leading hack to the still 8. In addi-l tion to this the pipe 6, preferably at the lower bend thereof is provided with a similar outlet l()a having its exit end preferably extending intoa similar glass tube 1la which in turn communicates with a pipe 12a connected with or forming-a 'continuation of thel` pipe 12. With this arrangement a return circuit is provided between the separator 1, the bend of the pipe 6 and the still 8.' A pipe 13 extends from the upper portion of the separator 2 and is -connected with one end of a condensing cdillt, the other end of which communicates with an outlet tube or other withdrawing means l5, said coil llllbeing located in a condensing tank 16 containing a cooling agent of any kind such as water, which surrounds the said coil in the usual manner. ln the arrangement shown the tankl is located in a horizontal position with each convolution-of the coil 14 provided with an outlet tube 17 controlled by a valve 18 or any other suitable device.

In operation the liquid to be distilled is introduced 4into the boiler or still 8 and is converted into a vapor or steam therein, the steam or vapor from said still 8 passing' through the tube 7 into the separator 1 near its one end. The said steam or vapor passes along the said separator l and tirough the perforated plates 3 therein Y and finally passes out of said separatori and tiene through the pipe 6 into the separator 2 at the bot-torn thereof. The said steam or vapor now rises in the separator 2 around the pans 4 and through the apertured plates 5 condensation at different levels.

therein and such portions 'thereof as remain uncondensed when the top oi' the separator 2 is reached, nally pass through the pipe 13 into the coil 14C in which final condensation of the steam or vapor takes place and from which such steam or vapor as still remains uncondensed passes oil' through the pipe 15. .As the steam or vapor rises in the separator 2 the constituents thereof 'Will become successively condensed at the various levels therein and the various products of condensation will collect in the different pans 4 from each of which these products may be separately withdrawn through the outlets 4b as may be desired.l in the usual manner. With this arrangement it is possible to separately withdrawthe products of As before stated such steam or vapor as remains uncondensed at the top of the separator 2 passes through the pipe 13 to the coil 14. As the steam or vapor impacts against the plates 3 in the separator l. it will become partially condensed, the products of condensation finally passing through the return outlet 10. tube 11 and pipe 12 back to the still or boiler 8. Similarly any `products of condensation collecting at the bottom voir the separator 2 will pass out of saine into the lower bend of thepipe 6 and will be carried away frm this point through the outlet 10EL to the tube 11a and pipe 12 back to the still or boiler 8. Any condensation which mav occur in the pipe 6 will also be .carried 0E through said outlet 10B. tube-11 and pipe l2 back to the still 8. Owing to the fact that the'diameter of the connection 10 is less than 'that of the pipe 6 any tendencyr of the vapor to pass from the still 8 through the connection 10E will he resist/-l the same manner as in the customary column still whiclirusually must be of' al considerable height in order to properly perform its functions. The products of distillation which result from the process, as before stated, may be Withdrawn, through any of the outlet tubesl? from any one of the convolutions of the coil 14, whereby Vdiderent products resulting from the diffrent .tsmd

Laconic the separators and thus automatically pre' vent interference withthe process at this point by returning products of condensation and anv foreign or solid matter which may collect bach' to the still. The result is that the process is just as emcientlv carried'out as it would be in a columnstill having: a

height equal to the combined height of all` of the separators included in the apparatus. l't will. of course. be understood that in i some casos additional separators preferablyconnected in series as described muv be pro vided if necessary or desired and further that 'the separators mav be arranged with their maior axes extending in other directions than those illustrated. the separator beine' preferably arranged ina horizontal position simply because initial condensation of the steam or vapor is more readily brousrht about bv having said steam 'or vapor flow in a substantially horizontal direction and impact against upright plates instead of beine: forced against plates athen wise arranged. ln any case it will be seen that mv apparatus is compact in arrangement and of reasonable dimensions so that it mav be placed in any ordinarv'location Without reouirins' a housing or protection structure of ,extreme height. For instance rnv improved arrangement mav be installed on any single door ot a building instead of reouiriog it to extend through several floors as 1s ofttimes the case with existing` column stills;v Mv a paratus is capable of distil- ,line anv lioui s and may be used as a substitute for a column still and in a variety of other'ways which will be at once ap;- parent.

Various changes in the speciiic form and arrangement shown and described mnv be made lwithin the scope ot the claims without denarmni from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A distillation apparatus 'comprising a still. a pluralitv of separators. a connection between' the first separator and said still. a

connection between two adiaccnt separators,

a condenser operatively connected with thev last separator and` a return connection between sfud still and the connection between two' adjacent separators whereby any conlensnte or the like in said returnv connection is conducted back to the still before it passes toa separator. bevond the first separator.

2, distillation apparatus oomprisingp plurality of separators, a connectin pipe rst 'separatorto the still and another conl'extending from one separator to the ottom nection extendn from the connecting pipe of the next adjacent separat r a t'111, a tube between two a laeent separators to said 10 'connecting the top of saidv wlth the first return connection. f

5 separator, a, condenser, atl'ppe connecting In testimony gwhereo, I have hereunto the top orton ofthe lat separatorwit set my hand. e said con anser, a return conneeton irom the V GEORGE B. FURMAN. 

